"Ida" Cast - Darwinius maxillae
Darwinius is an ancient primate from around 47 million years ago, during the Eocene era. Its only known species, Darwinius masillae, is known from one incredibly well-preserved fossil nicknamed Ida.
Ida was discovered in 1983 in an old quarry near Messel, Germany, but her two fossil pieces weren’t put back together until 2007. She was a young female, about the size of a small cat, and looked a bit like a modern lemur.
The name Darwinius honors Charles Darwin, and masillae comes from Messel, the place she was found. Ida gives us a fascinating peek into early primate evolution—and she’s got the fossil fame to prove it
Now can even take a piece of prehistoric history home! Made of lightweight ‘foam’ resin, this cast is 22”x15” and ready to hang on the wall. $340